Digging Our Own History: Archaeological Research into Auburn University at Montgomery’s Tenant Farming Past

Summary

This is an abstract from the session entitled "At Stake in the Quad: Archaeologies on/of Campus", at the 2024 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology.

Prior to its 1967 founding, the lands of Auburn University at Montgomery (AUM) were agricultural fields cultivated by enslaved laborers, and later tenant farmers. Maps, photographs, and above-ground features have led to the identification of three mid-20th century residential sites. By using our campus as an outdoor classroom, AUM students have had hands-on opportunities to explore and engage with the archaeological record that otherwise would not have been economically possible for most. Not only have they learned basic field methods, which led to employment for some, but they also learned about our institution’s history. Through campus events, students have shared what they learned with a variety of campus constituents, providing all with a better understanding of our campus’s tenant farming past, its historical landscape, and the people who lived and worked on its lands.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for Historical Archaeology 2024   •
• At Stake in the Quad: Archaeologies on/of Campus

Keywords

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Nicole Haddow